You are browsing the archive for March 2010.
Homes For Sale Santee Ca ~ Treviso
Located at the west end of the city of Santee on Mission Gorge, Treviso is a complex of 186 attached townhomes built in 2006.
Treviso is located just blocks from both the 52 and 125 freeways for easy access. The Trolley Station is minutes away located at Santee Towne Center which is also home to Costco, Home Depot, Target and Vons. In addition to the shopping Santee has to offer, you will also find some fantastic dining with Olive Garden, Chili’s and some great non chain eateries like Panda Country Chinese.
Your active lifestyle will love the homes at Treviso! Walk to Mission Trails Regional Park which is home to over 40 miles of trails. Treviso also backs to the Carlton Oaks Country Club which is a championship golf course. Santee Lakes is just around the corner and is a great location for fishing, camping, jogging, walking the dog or family picnics.
In addition, Treviso has plenty of amenities within the complex to enjoy the beauty Santee has to offer! With a beautiful pool/spa and outdoor barbecue, Treviso provides the perfect setting for the warm weather! Play areas for the kids and rec room make community living fun.
With a great Mediterranian architectural style, the Treviso Townhomes have 5 different floor plans ranging in size from 1073 to 1774 square feet, 2-3 bedrooms, there is one that will fit your family needs. Walk to West Hills High School and close to Carlton Oaks Elementary.
Homeowners Association Dues at Treviso are some of the lowest you will find! $175 a month gets you low maintenance living with maximum convenience!
Each home has available laundry in the unit as well as 1-2 car garage parking. These Treviso Townhomes are highly coveted and sell fast!
Are you looking for a home for sale in Treviso? As of March 31, 2010 there is currently one 2 bed/2 bath 
available as well as one 3 bedroom 3.5 bath model in contingent (short sale) status.
If you are looking for homes in Santee, CA and Treviso please visit my website! I would love to help you make the homes of your dreams a reality.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
For anyone considering buying property in Mexico, here is a free eBook to help navigate through the process. It is imperative when looking to buy property in Mexico you be aware of all the nuances. Thomas Lloyd helps guide through the process.
A new Mexico Real Estate guide is now being offered to help new buyers understand the process and to give tips on purchasing real estate in Mexico. What is interesting about this Mexico real estate guide, is that it is not made up of the opinion of only one person, but this is a collaboration of various experts that are currently active in the Mexican industry.
(click here to download a free copy)The main goals that we have with our organization and our web sites, is to help non-Mexicans find and purchase properties safely. The brokers that we have invited to make up our network and to contribute in our goals are people who have these same principals and who have had many years of experience in working here in Mexico. There are many things that cannot be learned from text books, and this is where experience plays such an important factor for a realtor to be succesful in representing buyers.
The Mexico real estate guide / E-Book has no charge and is very interesting layout. As our goal was to share the opinions of various top brokers from Mexico, the ebook allows for quick navigation to see the answers with ease by clicking onto the photo of the expert. It is a unique and efficient method to scan quickly over the responses and we hope this will make “looking up answers” a much quicker method for non-Mexicans. Please link this page and download, and give us your feed back!
“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”
Thomas Lloyd, graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. Mexico Real Estate Degree & Professional Identificacion Number S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
East County Family YMCA, Santee, CA/La Mesa, CA and now Rancho San Diego, CA
Summer is coming! East County is getting ready to heat up, and heat up quickly! Are you ready for the river? How about the beaches? Or maybe this summer will be a staycation. Whatever your plans are for the summer, let the East County Family YMCA help!
The East County Family YMCA’s mission is to ”…Improve the quality of human life and to helping all people realize their fullest potential…” From getting into shape, day camps or just fun in the sun with great aquatics programs, gymnastics or fitness and well being, the East County Family YMCA has something for everyone in the family.
The Cameron Family YMCA is located at 10123 Riverwalk Drive, Santee, Ca. They have a fantastic swim program with a training pool. There is also an activity pool and play structure with a water slide open to the public without membership for a minimal fee for Santee residents. Maybe you prefer Yoga or Pilates? Sign up for a class today! Santee also offers a 17,000 square foot gymnastics center with bars, beams, vaults…you name it they have it! This is a fantastic club! I am a member here and love the water aerobics! There are so many great programs available at this location!
John A. Davis Family YMCA is located at 8881 Dallas Street, La Mesa, Ca. This location offers a 25 yard heated lap pool as well as specialty programs for seniors. This location offers a Parkinson’s Balance class as well as an Arthritis Mobility class. How about joining a weight loss and fitness team to meet your weight loss goals? This 6 week program forms teams of 4-6 people with 12 coaching sessions from a personal trainer! The team with the greatest combined wight loss and inches lost will win a credit voucher for 1/2 of the program cost! Or maybe you just want to rent the pool for a family reunion. This is the only location the pool is available for personal rental!
McGrath Family YMCAis located at 12006 Campo Road, Rancho San Diego, Ca. This is the newest addition to the East County YMCA Family. With the grand opening on April 17, 2010 you can count on the Rancho San Diego location to live up to it’s family name! Participate in Family Movie Night thorough out the summer or Mommy and Me Art Lessons! This center is also offering a Parents Night Out where parents have an opportunity for date night with reliable child care! With the same great fitness programs as the other two locations, you will find the McGrath Family YMCA has what you are looking for.
Each of the East County Family YMCA locations offer summer day camps, family activities, facilities for 
birthday parties, family karate, soccer, basketball….the list goes on! Memberships are available for families, seniors or individuals. Kaiser Permanente members also inquire about special discounts.
Let the East County Family YMCA be a part of your summer activities! Maybe I will see you at the Cameron Family YMCA!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
These seem like simple little rules; wouldn’t it be great if everyone could live by them?
“1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationship with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even it it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.”H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Your Credit Report-The Basics
Every time you apply for credit, you’re giving lenders permission to see your credit report. Don’t you think it is important for you to see what they are seeing? Be proactive and check your credit report on a regular 
basis. By reviewing your credit report and understanding what is on it, you will be prepared for negotiations with lenders and will be able to detect the early warning signs of fraud or identity theft.
How to obtain your credit report
You should review your credit report from the three major U.S. credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion):
Free credit reports
You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit agencies once a year. In order to obtain a free credit report you must order it through Annual Credit Report.com
In addition, you’re entitled to a free credit report:
Did you find an error?
In review of your credit report annually for accuracy, if you find an error you will want to request dispute form from the credit reporting agency. You may find the error is only reporting on one of the bureaus and not all three. Be sure and obtain the correct paperwork from the bureau reporting the error. If the error is reporting to all three, make sure you follow the specific instructions for each one. The agency will then investigate and must respond to you within 30 days. Only the credit agencies can correct the data on your report.
How mistakes are made
Often times when a credit report contains errors, it may be because the report is incomplete, or contains information about someone else. This typically happens because:
Some incorrect data, however, may be an indication that you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft (for example, someone has applied for credit in your name or used your credit without your permission). By reviewing your credit report annually you should be able to catch these mistakes and take action to correct the error or take the required steps to report the fraudulent activity.
A good credit history can open a world of financial opportunity. The following are just a few things a good credit report can influence, and why you should know where you stand.
In addition, your credit history can influence:
Maintain Your Good Credit
By following the tips below, you can be sure to keep your credit score where it needs to be:
Understand the length of your credit history
If you are new to having credit, don’t rush out and open a lot of new accounts. New accounts will lower your average account age. This will have a large effect on your credit score if you do not have a lot of other credit. Additionally, a rapid account buildup will look like a larger credit risk to a creditor if you are a new credit user.
Getting new credit 
Manage the types of credit you have
Remember the 20/10 Rule: Never let your credit card debt get to be more than 20% of your total yearly income after taxes. And each month, don’t have more than 10% of your monthly take-home pay in credit card payments.
Once you have established your credit history, the most important thing is to keep control of it so you can achieve your financial goals without getting too far into debt.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Another Carlsbad Home Pending
With the countdown coming close for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to expire, buyers are making their moves!
My listing at 2352 Altisma Way in Carlsbad has gone pending this week! With a total of 5 days on the market, I can tell the pressure to get into a home is on!
Are you looking for San Diego Real Estate? Let me help you find it before the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit expires on April 30!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Not Just Pets San Diego
Our pets are more than just a dog or a cat. They become part of our families. They sleep in our beds, take over the couch, eat the sandwich left on the table, share our family vacations. They are as big a part of our daily lives as our partners or children!
The love of a pet is unconditional. They do not judge. They are there when we need them most, and there even when we lock them outside for parties. (Hey, it is for their own good, everyone would feed them and they ARE on a special diet because they are a little heavier than the vet thinks they should be)
We share so much with our pets, when one dies, it is devastating. This loss can be as great as losing a family member. The grieving process can be a difficult time, especially for children.
I would like to share with you a local San Diego business that understands the grieving process. Donna Moore has created a wonderful way to honor and memorialize a lost pet. “More Than Just a Dog” or “Cat” journals help both young and old deal with the loss of a pet. These well thought out guides will honor your pet and provide fun activities to celebrate your pets life. These journals are a way to grieve with joyful memories. These books also make fantastic gifts. Not Just Pets also offers portraits specialized to you or someone you love’s animal and personalized sympathy cards.
Not Just Pets was born from Donna’s loss of her own pet. “I created the initial book and subsequent products out of a desire to celebrate and memorialize the life of one of my “pets”, Raja. Raja was a stray, black afghan that I had to euthanize after his long struggle with hip displaysia. Journaling helped me through that most difficult, empty time in my life and led to the first “More Than a Dog” book. The other products came about after that.” Donna explains on her website how the idea became more than just a business. This is also a place to celebrate the life of a pet with others going through the same difficulities. Share your story and pictures online. There is also advice on how to manage grief.
This fantastic way to remember a pet. Whether it is your family doing the grieving or someone you love, these books will help make a tough time become a celebration of a life well lived. They really are NOT JUST PETS!
More Than a Dod and More Than a Cat images are the property of Not Just Pets and may not be used without permission.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Flipping a home is not as easy as you see on TV! There are some strategies and planning that need to be addressed prior to making an offer on a property you are considering flipping. Deena Cottingham has nailed it with this post. Thanks for the great information Deena!
Home Flip . . . or Flop?? Common mistakes to Avoid when selling a House for profit!
Spring is on the horizon, and with it, it seems like there is a lot more hope in many real estate markets. Here in Calgary, new home starts have nearly tripled compared to this same time last year! That is certainly good news.
With the general consensus being that perhaps the market has seen its bottom, with a slow rise in prices expected, it is a more promising scenario for home flippers to get back at buying and selling real estate for profit.
However, the house flipping industry has seen its share of casualties! If you are contemplating fixing up a house with the intent to sell it for a profit, be on guard against the following common mistakes:
1) Selecting the Wrong Property
Rule #1 for real estate isn’t location, location, location for nothing! You might get a better “deal” upfront on a property that has been difficult to sell – and the seller is now desperate – but be careful you won’t be in the same boat later on. This includes poor location, overall quirkiness, unusual floor plan for the area, or anything that is not easily fixed and would prevent the majority of people from wanting to buy it. Not sure? Consult a professional first.
2) Falling in Love
Getting emotionally involved with the house is one of the most common mistakes amateur home flippers make. Never lose sight of the fact that this is a business deal, pure and simple. Don’t make decisions based on what you’d like to see or you’d like to have in the home. If you won’t get at least double your money back on that tile or appliance decision, don’t put it in!
3) Underestimating the Time Value of Money
The longer you hang onto that property, the more it eats away at your profit. Many home flippers decide that they are going to do some work themselves to “save” on costs (been there, done that!). BIG mistake. Unless you are expertly proficient at the task, hire a professional to do it. They will do a better job, have fewer delays, get it done faster, and won’t create additional problems. (Anyone know what I’m talking about?!)
4) Over Renovating
This is a combination of #2 and #3 above. Your goal is to sell that property quickly, for the maximum profit possible. You are not creating your own dream home. If the maximum profit is attainable with only paint and new carpet, don’t replace the kitchen and bathrooms. Sure you it would look nicer and you might be able to sell it for more, but if your return on investment is lowered . . . and the job starts taking a whole lot longer . . you are making less money on the venture.
You’re better off to sell it with less done to it, and re-invest that money into your next project.
5) Pricing to Cover your Costs
When it’s all said and done, the property is only worth what it’s worth. Regardless of the decisions you made, how much you spent, or how much your carrying costs have added up to, you cannot sell the property for more than its fair market value. Listing high will just take longer to wear you down to that fair market price — increasing your carrying costs more and putting you further into debt.
And once a property has sat for more than a month or two, buyers start to think they can low-ball an offer because they figure you’ll be a more desperate seller (and you are, aren’t you?). That is, if they’ll even look at the overpriced listing in the first place. Many won’t.
Instead, follow the first 4 rules as best you can, and then just sell it. If you aren’t going to make as much money as you had hoped, chalk it up to a lesson learned . . . and move on. No buyer is going to overpay because you made poor decisions along the way.
6) Not Budgeting for Professionally Marketing the Home
Lastly, in order to have your best chances at a quick sale (remember, time is money), don’t forget to get the professionals to help you do this task, as well!
Since your flip is likely to be vacant, get it professionally staged. Home staging will help give those empty rooms scale and purpose; help tell a lifestyle story which also helps create an emotional connection; and will help distract the buyer’s eye from any minor flaws left in the property (don’t hide . . . distract!).
A professional Real Estate Agent will help you get maximum exposure for your property, and give buyers peace of mind about entering into a deal with you. They will also be able to advise you appropriately, preventing other costly mistakes in the negotiating and closing phases of the deal.
Home flipping is a great way to earn a decent income, and can be a lot of fun. Having been there myself, though, I can say that it’s not as easy as it looks on TV, kids! If there is a mantra for house flipping, it should be education, education, education! Know what you’re getting into.
Happy Flipping!
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
2352 Altisma Way #18, Carlsbad, CA
Not a short sale or REO! This traditional sale is ready for a quick close. Just in time to take advantage of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
.
Located minutes from renowned La Costa Resort and Spa, which is also home to the Chopra Center, this spacious 1 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 bath condo lives up to it’s surroundings. The serenity of the complex is felt throughout with beautiful updated landscaping that reflects the Carlsbad lifestyle. This unit is set at the rear of the complex with the patio overlooking open space. With first floor entry and no one above or below, these row homes provide privacy as well as townhome living. Vaulted ceilings provide plenty of light and creates an open, airy living space. Cozy granite tiled fireplace is a perfect place to retire after a hard day at the beach or golf course! The oversized loft bedroom on the second floor provides enough space to accomodate a king size bedroom collection as well as possibly an office. There is plenty of storage in the unit as well as out. Carport parking also provides lower and overhead storage. Plenty of room for your bike, surfboard or golfclubs. Full size washer and dryer hookups in the unit grants some ease to the chore!
Maybe you are looking for a Second Home? This unit may be just the thing you are looking for. Close to the beautiful greens of La Costa Country Club and Aviara at Four Seasons designed by Arnold Palmer. Tee time is calling! Enjoy the Carlsbad Flower Fields just up the road with a spectacular view of the Pacific.
Competitively priced at just $240,000 this home is a great buy. Whether First Time Home Buyer, Second Home Buyer, recent retiree…whatever your situation you will be proud to call 2352 Altisma Way #18, Carlsbad CA HOME!
Looking for Carlsbad Real Estate? Let me help you find what you are looking for.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
I had to take a minute to share this wonderful story that the wonderful Anna Banana shared. If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!
Ducks Quack – Eagles Soar…..
A like-minded friend sent me this story this morning. It is a story that I love and haven’t read for a very long time. Apply this story to your real estate business (or any business for that matter) and watch your business grow – guaranteed!
What is always so fun is how the right things or people turn up at the right time. Just this morning a few of us were talking about a book that is mentioned in this story “You’ll See it When You Believe It” by Wayne Dyer – then this story showed up about an hour later. I knew it was one that needed to be passed on to touch just the right people!
Read on – it’s worth it!
No one can make you serve customers well….that’ s because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: ‘I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.’
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally’s Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment. ..This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’ My friend said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.‘ Wally smiled and said, ‘No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.’ Almost stuttering, Harvey said, ‘I ‘ll take a Diet Coke…’
Handing him his drink, Wally said, ‘If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today….’
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.’
And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts…
‘Tell me, Wally,’ my amazed friend asked the driver, ‘have you always served customers like this?’
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. ‘No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.
He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.’
‘That hit me right between the eyes,’ said Wally. ‘Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking
and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers… The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.’
‘I take it that has paid off for you,’ Harvey said.
‘It sure has,’ Wally replied. ‘My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today.I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.’
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I’ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give the m a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar. Let’s Soar Together in Business and Life!
************************
Do you live in the Phoenix, Arizona area? Are you thinking about making a change in real estate companies? Give me a call at 602-595-8900 or e-mail me.
Let’s talk about your marketing strategies – and how blogging is just one way to build your business.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
California Broker’s Exam
Ok, I have finally done it! I have applied to take the California Broker’s Exam. This has been on my “to do” list for over 8 years now. YES, I said 8 years.
I am not really that big of a procrastinator, or I did not think I was….In actuality, I think it really has all 
been fear based. Fear of the unknown, fear of not having the right qualifications, fear of failing. I never realized how fear can be such a factor in our day to day lives. Such POWER a four letter word can have!
Now that I have finally sent the documentation in and paid my fees, the fear is gone! I am actually very excited to get a test date and pass the test! I will do everything in my power to not let that little four letter word interfere in my success!
I know I will need to study, and study hard. Although I have been licensed for 19 years and have experience in both mortgage banking and real estate, I certainly do not know everything there is to know! Heck, I have learned so much in the 6 months I have been an active participant with Active Rain, I know there is so much more to learn!
Wish me luck and if anyone knows of a good study course for the California Broker’s Exam, I would love a recommendation!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Global Warming ~ Fact or Fiction
Take a look at this interesting article I was reading about the dangers of low oxygen levels in the oceans. Scientist are saying these low oxygen levels have increased over the years and show potential for damage to the Pacific Northwest Coast. The cause according to scientists is a result of Global Warming. 
The coast off of Washington state and Oregon show increasing areas of almost complete lack of oxygen that have caused a noxious bacteria which endangers the fragile ecosystems of the ocean. In addition have left piles of Dungeness Crab bodies, killed off 25 year old sea stars and damaged many colonies of sea anemones.
Scientists also have recorded oxygen levels dropping year over year, 20 percent over the last 25 years for the coast off of Southern California. The article states “as ocean temperatures rise, the warmer water on the surface acts as a cap, which interferes with the natural circulation that normally allows deeper waters that are already oxygen-depleted to reach the surface. It’s on the surface where ocean waters are recharged with oxygen from the air.”
Are we causing irreversibe damage to the ocean? Is our daily living; gasses from our cars, pollution, agricultural run off, causing these drops in oxygen levels to the ocean? Read the article. What say you? Don’t forget about World Water Day on March 22. Visit Surfrider Foundation for more information.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Buying property in Mexico not only is confusing if you do not understand what you are doing, but can be quite costly if not done properly. Thomas Lloyd again provides some very valuable information on finding the right agent.
You find a very interesting Mexico Home on the internet, and the price looks right. Or maybe you’re down in Mexico for your vacation on the beach and you see a great looking Mexico Condo, in a perfect location with a for sale sign on it. What’s the first thing you should do? Call the phone number on the sign, or on the web page advertising the property? You get the best deal that way, since you’re going straight to the seller, without involving more people in the transaction, right? WRONG! False logic, it seems simple that contacting the listing agent would appear to be the first best step to excercise; this misconception can lead to inadequate representation of you the buyer or a conflict of interest between buyer and seller in the Mexico real estate transaction.
Experts of the TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK, explain quite clearly why you should choose a Mexico real estate agent who represents only your interests as a buyer, and how to avoid such risks when buying property in Mexico.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the real estate world is that by contacting the listing agent, we save something; we think we save money – either by finding a better price, or by saving commissions; we think we save time, avoiding more steps in communication or extra contracts. We will see that these perceptions are entirely false! In fact, if you have the listing agent represent you the buyer in the purchasing process, you could end up paying more, and allow yourself to be placed in great disadvantages within the contracts and in other aspects of the sale.
First of all, let’s consider the point of saving money. As for the purchase price, first we need to consider who the listing agent is working for. The listing agent has been contracted by a person or company selling a piece of real estate. The agent has signed a contract and has a fiduciary obligation to the seller – a completely normal arrangement. That agent is obligated to protect the interests of the seller. What are the interests of the seller? Getting the HIGHEST PRICE reasonably possible, and including as many benefits in the seller’s favour as possible. What are your interests as a buyer? Getting the LOWEST PRICE reasonably possible, and obtaining the most benefits in your favour. These two sets of interests cannot coincide on all points – especially not in the area of PRICE.
“How is one agent, negotiating between buyer and seller, going to be able to obtain all of this for buyer and seller?”
An honest seller’s agent committed to protecting the needs of his clients would refer you, the buyer, to another professional agent who could represent your needs fairly. The trouble occurs if the listing agent is not upfront about his or her obligations, and attempts to represent both you and the seller. You, as a buyer, must avoid this situation.
Now, having established that it is a conflict of interest for a seller’s agent to represent you, the buyer, specifically in the area of cost, do you really think that the listing agent will be able to get you a lower price than another agent? Since his first and main obligation is to the seller, who is looking for the highest price, the opposite is probably true; you will end up paying a higher price.
Perhaps you are wondering about commissions. Usually the commission is paid by the seller; the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent generally split the seller’s commission 50-50. There is usually no cost to the buyer to have another agent represent his needs, nor is there any extra cost the seller.
“Find a good buyer’s agent and have him contact the advertising agent,” “It’ll cost the buyer nothing and will probably save him a fortune and many head and heart aches!”
The fact that the seller’s agent is looking out for the seller’s interest first could also have the result that you do not find out about problems either with the physical property or the paperwork. In Mexico regulations are not as well defined, and as a result there is less obligation for agents to disclose problems with the property to the buyer. If you do not have an agent representing only your interests, it is more likely that problems will go unnoticed or that you will not be made aware of them.
The same idea applies to paperwork. The same amount of documentation is necessary whether there is one or two agents involved; again, having a buyer’s agent will ensure that there is someone looking out for and protecting your interests in the processes, and may in fact save you a bureaucratic mess later on, when issues surface later on that really were not in your best interest. A buyer’s agent will watch out for your needs and make sure you are aware of what is going on. Communication will also be clearer, since it is better defined who is representing who.
Another important point is that a committed buyer’s agent will give you a complete overview of properties available and suitable for your needs and price range, not favouring, or pressuring you to buy from a certain developer or seller.
“A true buyer’s agent”, “will show the buyer ALL the properties that meet his needs and budget; not just those they have as in-house listings.”
This means that you can explore and evaluate all the options. If you do not have all the options presented to you, it is not possible to know that you are choosing the property best for your needs.
A buyer’s agent will also help save the buyer time. TOPMexicoRealEstate lists the following items; the buyer’s agent can help evaluate the buyer’s price range and different financing options, review the condition of the property, advise the buyer concerning key inspections, suggest where they can find the experts to carry out the inspections, check costs of owning the property, such as property taxes and utilities, prepare and present the official offer, make sure the contract is as favourable to the buyer as possible, and review documentation transfer. These steps can be time consuming, and many of them require experience to make sure that your interests are represented. A seller’s agent may have the experience to know whose interests they represent, but may be limited by his obligations to the seller.
“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”
Thomas Lloyd, graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. Mexico Real Estate Degree & Professional Identificacion Number S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Buying a Home ~ The Right Way
Once you have decided to buy a home you are surrounded by people that are experts. Aunt Mary just bought her 5th home and has a ton of advice. Best Friend Bob will tell you what not to do or how best to do 
it. How come they are all saying something different? Because buying a home is a personal decision. It is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime, and each person has a different reason, need or want when deciding to buy a home.
Buying a home does not need to be stressful. It does need to be a process, and a well thought out one! Having a plan and understanding the process will help you make the best decision for you and your family.
understand your budget before you start the process. 
homes. Size, style, location, cost….if you are able to find a home that meets the majority of your needs and wants list, it may be the time to act. Often times waiting for “the perfect home” creates frustration and possibly settling for something less than some of the previous homes you may have looked at. Buying a home is exciting! You have made the right decision. Now take the time and do it the right way!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Stephanie Reynolds 
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